DEAN GORDON last night expressed an interest in staying with Cardiff City, despite making himself unavailable for the club's FA Cup second-round tie with Port Vale tomorrow.

The Middlesbrough wing-back - who has dropped down the pecking order at The Riverside - arrived at Ninian Park two weeks ago intent on proving he was still capable of playing in the Premiership.

But Gordon, whose loan spell ends on December 22, said he was enjoying life with the Bluebirds so much that a permanent switch to the Second Division club would appeal to him.

"There are going to be big things happening at this club - I really think Cardiff can win the league - and I want to be part of it," said the 28-year-old former Crystal Palace defender.

"I can see similarities between Cardiff and the way Middlesbrough or Sunderland were a few years back when only 15,000-odd supporters turned up to watch them at Ayresome Park and Roker Park. Most Premier League teams have the same background as Cardiff City.

"When I first came to Cardiff I wasn't quite sure what I wanted but, having been here a couple of weeks, it looks good and I'm very impressed with the ambition.

"I'm hoping to extend the loan spell and, if I can impress the chairman and the manager, it could be permanent."

And Gordon, who has decided not to play in the clash with Port Vale to avoid being cup-tied, said Bluebirds supporters were yet to see the best of him.

"In the first couple of games I struggled with my fitness, but I felt a lot better on Tuesday (against Brentford) and I think I can be even stronger in the next game."

Gordon will return to the side at Blackpool a week tomorrow but striker Peter Thorne, who was hoping to be fit for the trip to Bloomfield Road, is in plaster and out for up to three months.

City's record signing received the bad news after a scan on an ankle he twisted less than 30 minutes into the Bluebirds' 3-1 win over Brentford.

"Peter has ripped a ligament off the bone and will be in plaster for two weeks," said manager Alan Cork.

"Unfortunately, it appears he'll be out for a minimum of six weeks and 12 weeks at the most, which is another big blow for us.

"It looks like Kevin Nugent and Matt Brazier will be staying with us because they cannot agree financial terms with Colchester United (on a proposed &#xA3;70,000 move).

"They're taking a gamble that they'll pick up a club up at the end of the season (when their Cardiff contracts run out)."

Meanwhile, Swansea City are still talking to Crystal Palace about extending defender Stephen Evans's loan spell at the Vetch.

New Palace manager Trevor Francis is understood to want Evans back, but Swansea were last night "hopeful" of persuading him the Wales Under-21 defender would benefit from more first-team football.

Defender Jason Smith will miss Swansea's FA Cup clash at Maccles-field tomorrow as he prepares to have an operation on his troublesome ankle next week.

Smith, who has spent almost eight months on the injury list this year, said, "I just want to get this sorted."